Summer Flute Project 2025
When: June 16-20, 2025
TICKETS AVAILABLE SOON
Purchase Tickets Here for the discounted tuition rate of $250 prior to June 1st.
The full tuition is $300 on and after June 1st. Purchase Tickets Here
Where: Mesa Community College
Elevate your skills at the MCC Summer Flute Project, a fabulous five-day flute camp/flute intensive experience that brings renowned guest artists and local artist faculty together with flutist participants in a stimulating, enjoyable, and supportive environment. Enjoy the camaraderie of other flutists and grow as a musician and performer. This summer's outstanding guest artists are Elizabeth Buck, Brian Gordon, Robert Heiligenberg, and Amanda Izzo! The Artist Faculty features top flutists from the valley Rhonda Bowen, Abby Coffey, Michelle Stolper, Andrea TenBarge, Kehokule'alani O'Daniell, and Christina Steffen who bring their expertise and enthusiasm to daily chamber ensemble rehearsals, topic classes, discussions, interactive offerings, reading sessions, flute choir, and group warm ups.
Mornings start at 9:00 am with a group warmup class, followed by flute choir and coached chamber ensemble rehearsals. After a lunch break (participants bring their own lunch, SFP provides healthy snacks and drinks) the afternoon course offerings and performanceswith Guest Artists and Artist Faculty begin at 12:30 and end at 4:00pm. On Friday the SFP ensembles and flute choir present a free concert at 5:00pm
Register early to be included as a performer in master classes. Priority will be given to week-long participants with limited space available for single-afternoon attendees.
The week-long program is available to high school, college, and adult flutists. Single Afternoons and concert-only options are open to everyone.
Guest Artists:
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Elizabeth Buck, Professor of Flute at Arizona State University, former Principal Flute with The Phoenix Symphony, international soloist and chamber musician. https://search.asu.edu/profile/301275 (Tuesday, June 17, 2025).
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Brian Gordon, Associate Principal Flute and Piccolo with The Phoenix Symphony. https://www.phoenixsymphony.org/musician/brian-gordon/ (Wednesday, June 18, 2025)
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Robert Heiligeneberg, Principal Flute of the Scottsdale Symphony and Arizona Wind Symphony, member of DEFproject (Thursday June 19, 2025) Robert Heiligenberg currently serves as the principal flutist of the Scottsdale Symphony and the Arizona Wind Symphony, while also being a member of the Desert Echoes Flute Project. A graduate of the Juilliard School, Robert studied under renowned flutists Carol Wincenc and Jeanne Baxtresser, refining his artistry before pursuing a Masters in Music at Rice University, where he studied with Leone Buyse. During his time at Rice, Robert was diagnosed with focal dystonia, a neurological disorder that affects motor control, which led him to step away from the flute for over 20 years. It was during the COVID-19 pandemic that Robert rediscovered his love for the flute and began playing again after two decades away from the instrument. His return to the flute not only marked a personal comeback but also deepened his commitment to his musical community, as he rejoined various community ensembles. In addition to his musical career, Robert has a diverse academic background, holding a Masters degree in nursing from UCLA. Currently, he is pursuing coursework to become a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), a path that reflects his deep interest in the intersection of mental health and the arts. (Robert's journey is a testament to resilience, creativity, and the healing power of music.)
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Amanda Izzo, Acting Second Flute with The Phoenix Symphony 2023-24 season, former Associate Principal Flute of the National Center for the Performing Arts Orchestra and Principal Flute of the China National Opera House Orchestra (Friday, June 20, 2025) Amanda Izzo served as Acting Second Flute with The Phoenix Symphony during the 2023-2024 season and has a distinguished career as a professional flutist spanning China, the UK, and the USA. In China, she held prominent positions, including Associate Principal Flute of the National Center for the Performing Arts Orchestra and Principal Flute of the China National Opera House Orchestra. She also performed as Guest Principal Flute with the China Philharmonic, Beijing Symphony Orchestra, and Tianjin Symphony Orchestra, among others. Amanda was a highly sought-after recording artist in Beijing, contributing to television series, commercials, and gala events. She has also served as a jury member for the Harbin Symphony Orchestra and various international flute competitions. With over 20 years of teaching experience, she has guided flutists of all ages and skill levels. In 2024, she was invited to Arizona State University to lead a masterclass on flute and piccolo for collegiate flutists. Amanda holds a Master of Arts degree from the Royal Academy of Music in London, where she simultaneously served as Co-Principal Flute with the Southbank Sinfonia. She earned dual Bachelors degrees from Queens College (NY) in Music Performance and East Asian Studies with a focus on Chinese. Among her mentors and teachers are renowned flutists such as William Bennett, Kate Hill, Clare Southworth, Leone Buyse, Renée Siebert, Stefán Höskuldsson, and Keith Underwood. Most recently, she graduated with Distinction from the OAcademys Artist Diploma program. In addition to her musical achievements, Amanda has worked as a voice actor for Chinese television dramas and films, showcasing her versatility as an artist.
Elizabeth Buck sponsored by Burkart Flutes & Piccolos
Brian Gordon
Robert Heiligenberg
Amanda Izzo
Artist Faculty:
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Christina Steffen (Artistic Director of Desert Echoes Flute Project; Flute Instructor, MCC) http://azflute.com/christinasteffenbio.html
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Abby Coffey (flute professional, winner of the 2019 NFA Piccolo Orchestral and Masterclass Competition, frequent performer with The Phoenix Symphony, Symphony of the Southwest, Colorado Music Festival, DEFproject, Adjunct Faculty at Arizona Christian University, and is the Executive Director of the AZ Philharmonic) https://azphil.org/about/our-team/
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Rhonda Bowen (flute professional, clinician, educator, Gilbert Symphony Orchestra, DEFproject, CAFE)
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Andrea TenBarge (flute professional, clinician, adjudicator) https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063252759034
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Michelle Stolper (Principal Flute of the West Valley Symphony, frequent performer with The Phoenix Symphony, DEFproject) https://michellestolper.com
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Kehokule'alani O'Daniell (flute professional, educator, popular clinician, DEFproject)
clockwise from upper left: Rhonda Bowen, Abby Coffey, Christina Steffen, Kehokule'alani O'Daniell, Michelle Stolper, Andrea TenBarge
Registration and Tickets:
Complete the registration form online
Download and print the release packet to bring with you or Email MCCSummerFluteProject@gmail.com
Week Long Registration | Single Day Registration available soon| MCC Release Packet
After completing the Registration form, purchase tickets below. The MCC Release packet may be completed and forms signed to bring with you on the 1st day or emailed. Email with questions or to send Release packet forms.
On and after June 1st use the link HERE
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Week-long registration
$250 before June 1st
$300 after June 1st - Monday – Friday 9am-4pm in the MCC Performing Arts Center, 1520 S. Longmore, Mesa, AZ 85202
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SFP Ensembles Concert Friday, June 20th 5:00pm - 6:00pm
Single afternoon tickets available $40 Tuesday – Friday 12:30pm-4:00pm (free admission to master class available for non-flutist family members of participants performing in the master class).
Tickets available soon
Tuesday - Elizabeth Buck + Recital Purchase Tuesday Afternoon
Wednesday - Brian Gordon + Artist Faculty Recital Purchase Wednesday Afternoon
Thursday -Robert Heiligenberg + Recital Purchase Thursday Afternoon
Friday - Amanda Izzo + recital Purchase Friday Afternoon
Engaging flute classes on a variety of topics and master classes with the guest artists and artist faculty. multiple offerings of recitals, master classes, topic classes, focused workshops, and interactive offerings presented by the guest artists and the artist faculty including reading sessions, managing performance anxiety, tone development, phrasing, expression, technical development, AMEA Regional Etudes, beatbox flute, the "other fingerings", and much more. Other topics may include breathing, articulation/tonguing, orchestral excerpts, pedagogy, extended techniques, low flutes, intonation, vibrato, acoustics of the flute. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday feature 12:30 recitals followed by the afternoon offerings.
Lunch-time Concert Only: $10 Tickets available soon on Purplepass
Tuesday, June 17 - Elizabeth Buck
Wednesday, June 18 - Artist Faculty
Thursday, June 19 - Robert Heiligenberg
Friday, June 20 - Amanda Izzo
